Nkululeko Gwala

Nkululeko Gwala (died 2013) originally from Inchanga in KwaZulu Natal, was a resident of Cato Crest, which is part of Cato Manor in Durban, and a supporter of the Marikana Land Occupation (Durban). He was also a prominent member of the shackdwellers' social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo and chairperson of their Cato Crest Branch.[1][2][3] He was assassinated on 26 June 2013.[4]

Activism

In the wake of the assassination of Thembinkosi Qumbelo, a prominent ANC housing activist in Cato Crest, Nkululeko Gwala came to the forefront as the primary leader of that community. He, along with Cato Crest community members then decided to leave the ANC and join the shack-dweller's movement Abahlali baseMjondolo. He then became a leading figure in the struggle against housing corruption in the area which resulted in him being targeted by the ANC.[5]

Death

Gwala was assassinated on June 26, 2013 after unnamed gunmen opened fire and he was shot 12 times.[6] This was following a controversial community meeting with eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo and ANC regional chairperson Sibongeseni Dhlomo in which Mr Gwala was singled out as a trouble maker.[7][8] [9] Abahlali baseMjondolo claims that Dhlomo also announced at the meeting that Mr Gwala would be "sorted out".[10]

The movement says Nkululeko Gwala was assassinated for exposing corruption in Cato Crest and that the community knows the identity of the gunman who they say also killed housing activist Thembinkosi Qumbelo. They claim the gunmen are associated with a local ANC councillor named Ngiba.[11][12] No one was ever arrested for Gwala's assassination. However, nine years later, Councillor for Ward 101, Mkhipheni Mzimuni Ngiba, was arrested for the murder of Siyabonga Mkhize who had won the ward, displacing Ngiba from that position.[13][14]

Gwala was buried in his home town of Inchanga in a politically charged funeral.[15]

No one has been arrested for the murder of Gwala.[16]

See also

Notes and references
  1. Nkululeko Gwala Murdered in Cato Crest, Abahlali baseMjondolo, 27 June 2013
  2. Why Are Political Killings Increasing in South Africa?, James Bullock, Think Africa Press, 21 October 2013
  3. The Struggle for a Second Transition in South Africa: Uprising, Development and Precarity in the Post-Apartheid City, Yousuf Al-Bulushi, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Department of Geography, 19 March 2019
  4. Abahlali baseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022
  5. The Struggle for a Second Transition in South Africa: Uprising, Development and Precarity in the Post-Apartheid City, Yousuf Al-Bulushi, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Department of Geography, 19 March 2019
  6. Nene, Nkululeko (27 June 2013). "KZN protest leader shot 12 times". IOL. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  7. Anatomy of an assassination, Niki Moore, Daily Maverick, 27 June 2013
  8. Africa: Killed for crying foul, by Andrew England, Financial Times, 26 August 2013
  9. Protest leader shot 12 times, Abahlali baseMjondolo, 27 June 2013
  10. Nkululeko Gwala Murdered in Cato Crest, Abahlali baseMjondolo, 27 June 2013
  11. Anatomy of an assassination, Niki Moore, Daily Maverick, 27 June 2013
  12. Nkululeko Gwala Murdered in Cato Crest, Indymedia UK, 27 June 2013
  13. KZN’s political ganglands: ANC councillor arrested for predecessor’s murder, Daily Maverick, 30 May 2022
  14. ANC councillor charged with killing another councillor seeks bail, Citizen, 5 August 2022
  15. Emotions bared as Gwala buried, IOL, 4 July 2013
  16. Abahlali baseMjondolo: Living Politics, Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, September 2022

See also
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